Wednesday, July 4, 2018

One thing our Founding Fathers had that we lack

Among many other characteristics we lack, they had the ability to come together despite their differences. And they had differences. From how the country should function to such hot-button issues as slavery, the Founding Fathers were all over the place. And yet they understood the complexities, and they got the bigger picture, one that they ultimately strove for, despite their different beliefs in how to get there.

Our modern Bolshevik Bumper Stick approach, where we want it fast and simple: We are the side of the angels, and they're Hitler, is a travesty to all things good and common sense, is the antithesis of this.

As I've said, I think we spend so much time trashing the past because it helps us dodge the mess we've made of our present. When pressed, we then turn everything wrong over on 'them'. The other side is to blame. Not us of course. We're awesome. Remember? We got trophies when we lost and were able to retake tests in school until we passed. That proves we're always awesome!

No, the rancor and vitriol isn't so much the problem as the rank partisanship, and the growing tendency of many to abandon their principles, values and standards in order to keep up. I'm not just thinking of Evangelicals who have suddenly made morals and character a bottom 200 issue in order to support Trump. I'm also talking about those who seem to be swinging left, even if they won't admit it, by downplaying, ignoring or even embracing that which they once called evil.

Hint. Steve Schmidt, liberal GOPer who worked for anti-Republican McCain (who Mark once warned could jeopardize a person's soul for voting for) and culturally liberal, quasi-Socialist Arnold Schwarzenegger, is hardly a gotcha voice to warn against the dreaded GOP. That he advocates what once was considered sin among many Catholics seems to be no big deal. Mark considers it his patriotic duty to attack only the GOP and ignore the sins of the Democratic Party which he now vocally cheers for and supports.

It's that level of partisanship, willing to throw anything and everything out the window, willing to turn a blind eye not just to coming persecution, but the slow evangelization of Christians away from the faith (far more American Catholics embrace the sins of the Left than Right) that is the problem. The GOP has its problems. Trump is certainly problematic. But they are in now way more of a threat than the emerging socialism and anti-traditionalism of the Democrats.

The Founding Fathers were a gift to America, and the world. We have squandered them. We let forces hostile to the Faith, the Country, and our values creep in and begin to erode what we inherited. If you think the GOP alone is some threat to our democracy Mr. Schmidt, or Mark Shea, then you, in fact, are the ones who are the threats to our democracy.

Would that we would be gifted by the likes of the Founding Father again.

UPDATE: It's been brought to my attention that I missed a key problem in Mark's post. It isn't that he's obviously just using it to gin up support for the Democratic Party, for which he is now a vocal cheerleader and advocate. It's the fact that he contradicts himself. He says that we should be worried about selling our soul, rather than any persecution. But if we don't care about persecution, why care about preserving our Democracy? What Democracy does Mark envision saving that includes persecution? Why is it fine to fight for Democracy, but not big deal when it comes to worrying about persecution?

Of course, again, this is Mark, one of the loudest advocates for the Democratic Party in modern Catholicism. Since attacking religious rights openly and through the courts is the tactic of the Democrats, it stands to reason he will downplay that. But it also shows a contradiction in those Christians trying to align with or compromise with the Left. Let's dismiss Mark's clear and obvious ignoring of those who have already been persecuted, and his denial that there exists anywhere a radical Left. That's stupid and shows a wanton cruelty when it comes to tolerating the suffering of our fellow believers merely because they are suffering under the Party he now supports.

Let's look at this little trend at face value. I've seen many now say this sort of thing, including Russell Moore of the SBC. Basically, it says we shouldn't worry about being persecuted or even preserving our nation. After all, we'll always have heaven. Countries come and go, persecution can be a badge of honor. But it's our spiritual destiny that is important.

So couldn't we argue the same about Global Warming? Couldn't we argue the same about anything, like healthcare or Open Border immigration? I mean, can't we just say none of it matters, we'll always have heaven? They'll have heaven? Heaven trumps all?

Obviously it's a lame excuse, yet is popular among those trying to pound that square peg of historical Christianity into the round hole of the modern secular, Marxist inspired Left. The lameness of it should set off bells and whistles. Especially if it occurs in the same argument in which the advocate of not caring about anything but our souls suddenly aligns with caring about our precious Democracy that, apparently, can easily include persecution of Christians.

2 comments:

I believe it was in Screwtape Proposes a Toast that CS Lewis pointed out that a man who accomplishes great good, can also be capable of great evil.

Though understandable after the horror of WW2, it does seem nowadays that the culture has decided that it's better we all be weaklings who can do nothing great - because then we won't at least do any great evils.

The problem is... we're not doing any great goods either.

It does seem like a common feature on some Catholic discussion groups, an obsession on avoiding doing anything wrong, than any effort put into doing something right.

True. I've said for some time that we'd rather lose a hundred wars than take a chance on doing anything wrong to win one. I think part of it is because we are no longer beholden to anything other than our own handpicked demographics. As long as nothing impacts those, it's the sacrifice we're willing to make.

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Dave Griffey

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This is a little blog of mine, just to kick around what I see going on in the world outside my window. Though primarily a blog looking at the world through Christian colored lenses, I'll touch on anything and everything, from culture and news to reflections on my own pilgrimage through the Christian Faith, to family and fun, history, vacations, movies, pets, cooking, delivery truck driving, you name it.

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